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Cape Town - The Bulls have confirmed that they were closing in on signing Springbok hooker Schalk Brits for next year’s Super Rugby competition.

Recent reports have indicated that Brits would play for the Bulls and the Pretoria franchise confirmed this on Monday.

It was earlier reported that Brits would play for the Stormers next season, but it is believed that the WP Rugby Union's monetary problems opened the door for the Bulls.

After confirming a wider training group for next year’s Super Rugby competition, the Bulls said via a press statement that they were "in advanced stages of securing the services of Springbok hooker Schalk Brits” and "will make an announcement in due course”.

Brits was set to retire from professional rugby after clinching a fourth Premiership crown with English club Saracens earlier this year before being lured back by Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus.

He returned inside a month to win an 11th cap for the Springboks and acted as a mentor for the team during the Rugby Championship.

The fleet-footed No 2 was also included in the Springbok squad for their current year-end tour to Europe.

Brits, who now has his sights set on next year’s Rugby World Cup, earlier had two stints in Super Rugby with the Stormers - between 2006-2009 and briefly in 2011.

During his time at Saracens (2009-2018) he also won two European Champions Cup titles.

Meanwhile, the Bulls also confirmed that two players will be loaned out until January 2019.

Loose forward Nick de Jager will enjoy a short stint at Japanese club Toyota Industries Shuttles and hooker Jaco Visagie will turn out Gloucester until the new year.